Grant helps Oklahoma City partner with Upward Transitions and The Dragonfly Home to help human trafficking victims
The City of Oklahoma City is part
nering with Upward Transitions and The Dragonfly Home to help victims of human trafficking using a federal grant for transitional housing.
The $500,000 federal grant from the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime helps victims of human trafficking with up to 2 years of transitional housing costs, including rent, utilities and relocation expenses. The grant will also help victims find permanent housing and employment, and provide access to occupational training and counseling.
The City, Upward Transitions and Dragonfly collaborated on the application for the grant, which the DOJ awarded this month. Dragonfly will provide trauma-informed, victim-centered services and make assessments for referrals to Upward Transitions, which will provide housing-focused case management and rental assistance.
“Upward Transitions is honored to work alongside The Dragonfly Home and the City in supporting those who are exiting human trafficking,” said Upward Transitions CEO Periann Pulliam. “Our housing support will be a critical component in creating the stability necessary for a successful recovery and transition into a productive, autonomous life.”
The City is among 73 organizations that received $35 million in grants for the program.
“Dragonfly has served so many victim-survivors of human trafficking who needed transitional housing in Oklahoma City, but there was a gap in those services,” said The Dragonfly Home co-founder and Executive Director Whitney Anderson. “We are eager to work with Upward Transitions and the City to start filling that gap with this innovative housing program, which also provides access to Dragonfly’s specialized, comprehensive services for victim-survivors of human trafficking.”
Read more on the program here from the DOJ.
About The Dragonfly Home
The Dragonfly Home specializes in serving victim-survivors of human trafficking, providing comprehensive, trauma-informed services geared specifically toward their needs. Through their Human Trafficking Crisis Center — the only program of its kind in Oklahoma — Dragonfly has served hundreds of victim-survivors of sex and/or labor trafficking and fielded thousands of calls to their 24-Hour Human Trafficking Helpline since November 2016. Dragonfly is Oklahoma City’s only state-certified non-profit serving victim-survivors of human trafficking. Read more at thedragonflyhome.org.
About Upward Transitions
For over 95 years, Upward Transitions has touched the lives of Oklahomans in need. Upward Transitions serves families and individuals who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or stranded by providing case management and stabilizing resources to help meet basic social needs. Upward Transitions’ ultimate goal is to prevent generational poverty through community collaboration, emergency relief and empowerment, therefore inspiring hope with their neighbors experiencing housing instability. You can find more information about Upward Transitions at upwardtransitions.org.